Sometimes when we peer into the heart,
We realize that it needs a bit of nourishing.
Sometimes when we take a closer look at what's there,
We notice that maybe we have not been giving ourselves the kind of compassion that is so easily offered to others.
What does it mean to offer the self some love?
How do you do that?
Let's see if we can begin to create a feeling of warmth for ourselves.
We might need to work with a couple of images to help encourage that.
So some basic images are just imagining perhaps a warm blanket lying across your lap,
Stroking a beloved animal,
Feeling the sensation and the softness of their fur and perhaps the calm and loving quality that is passed between a pet and an owner.
Imagining someone saying something kind to you and instead of ignoring it or diffusing it or denying that compliment,
What would it feel like to let it just sink in?
And speaking to yourself,
Offering yourself the same kind of care,
Compassion that a friend would if they listened to the litany of your day,
All of your worries,
Your concerns.
What would this friend say to you?
Could you say that to yourself?
Imagine a young child looking up to you with admiration,
Whether it's your own child or someone else's,
But that pure adoration and pure heart connection not being tainted by anything else.
And working with that image of a child,
Imagine yourself either as a young child or just being held in safety,
In safe loving arms,
Maybe even being rocked a little.
What would it feel like to instead of criticizing yourself for all that you haven't done,
Instead celebrate each and every tiny thing that you have done,
Whether it's in a day or in an hour or in a moment.
Being able to offer yourself some kindness,
Some compassion,
Some care can look like many things and can sound like many things.
Just pay attention to when you notice that you are proceeding with almost a violence against yourself,
Always self-improving,
Always doing something onto the next thing without remembering your true nature.
We may be so unused to feeling good about ourselves that when we start doing that it can feel like our heart is a dry parched desert and just offering a tiny drop of kindness can be so replenishing.
